A.A. Williams raised the bar for herself with 2020’s Forever Blue, making it the album that Solstice (Reigning Phoenix Music) finds itself going head-to-head with. “Poison” opens the album with the kind of brooding apocalyptic simmer that makes it clear she is not just another haunted Folk crooner, as it locks into a solid groove. There is a more depressive vibe to the second song that carries a slight drone to the minimal arrangement, giving her vocals room before swelling into something that sonically has more in common with post-Rock. “Little By Little” has more of a groove, and even with the synths darkening things in the background, it is the most accessible song thus far, thanks to how the vocals interplay with the drums, as the guitars slowly build to expand the dynamics.
Photo credit: Jake Owens
“Hold it Together” finds her vocals holding onto a fragile piano chord progression. It’s a power ballad of sorts, leading you to believe it’s going to stay in the direction it was headed for the first half of the song until the guitar comes in. This pulls everything together and makes it make sense. There is a more pastoral post-Rock feel to ”Outlines.” She again builds the song, but this time with a slight Country twang filling the empty spaces. The dynamic twist of this album is half the appeal. There is a melancholy wandering to this album that is not overtly dark enough to be called Goth. She often gets called “death gospel,” which there is not much evidence to support here, and it must be a TikTok tag for hipsters. Though a full choir could bust out at any minute, it can be premature to second-guess where she is going to take any of these songs. “I’ve Seen Enough” has more of a Folk feel, with a slight touch of Jazz underpinning the vocal phrasing. “I’ve Seen Enough” finds the drums being used in a more minimalist fashion. “The Veil” heads in a similar direction. In fact, it starts even more minimalist. It turns out that one is actually a ballad. She does not need driving drums, but it is a lot cooler when she has them, as proven on “Just a Shadow.” It almost feels like it could be an A Perfect Circle song. She also proves she can belt it out like a Rock singer when called for.
All the elements of “Breathe” keep it flowing, even before the drums come in. It rides the line between Dark Folk and Indie Rock. It is one of the album’s darker songs. It is another where the guitar opens it up at the midway point. Even on the second-to-last song, this formula does not get old. “The Gentle Harm” leans more on her vocals. She laments as much as she sings here, though, using enough breath in her voice to work. Guitars emerge as the song crept to the midway point again, as a sorrowful piano line drifts in. This album serves as a well-produced and polished return for her that is emotionally powerful and beautifully sung. It serves as a suitable entry point for new fans and should take her to bigger stages if there is justice in the world.
Buy the album here:
https://aawilliams.rpm.link/solsticePR
9 / 10
WIL CIFER
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